Battery pack and electric equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery pack and electric equipment. The battery pack comprises a plurality of battery cells which are arranged side by side along a first direction, wherein the end surfaces of the battery cells are provided with convex parts; the cold plate comprises a first flow collecting pipe and a second flow collecting pipe which extend in the first direction and are arranged at intervals; the cold plate further comprises a plurality of heat exchange pipes, and the heat exchange pipes are arranged between the first collecting pipe and the second collecting pipe side by side at intervals. One end of each heat exchange pipe is communicated with the first collecting pipe, and the other end of each heat exchange pipe is communicated with the second collecting pipe; the protruding parts are located in the intervals between the adjacent heat exchange pipes. The space utilization rate in the height direction of the battery pack is improved, and the use amount of heat-conducting glue can be reduced, so that the manufacturing consumable cost is reduced, and the overall weight of the battery pack is reduced; and in addition, relatively high heat exchange efficiency between the battery cell and the cold plate can be ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of batteries, and in particular to a battery pack and an electrical device. Background Art

[0002] At present, in order to meet the longer driving range and higher power requirements of new energy vehicles, the energy density and power density of power batteries are also constantly increasing. Along with this, the battery charge and discharge rates are constantly increasing, and the heat generation of the battery is also significantly increased. In order to avoid abnormal temperature increases that affect battery performance and even cause safety hazards, thermal management design of the battery is a very necessary protective measure.

[0003] Among the thermal management methods of battery packs, cold plates are widely used. The heat exchange medium in the cold plate can cool or heat the battery cells according to the specific operating conditions of the battery pack. However, for the battery cells of some battery packs, in some special processes, the top and / or bottom narrow surfaces of the battery cells form protrusions, so that when the battery cells are assembled with the cold plate, the interference of the protrusions will cause a large gap layer between the narrow surface of the battery cell and the cold plate. The gap layer needs to be filled with a large amount of thermal conductive glue, which will increase the manufacturing and consumables costs, increase the weight of the battery pack, and affect the energy density of the battery pack. On the other hand, excessive thickness of the thermal conductive glue will also reduce the heat exchange efficiency and affect the heat exchange effect between the cold plate and the battery cells. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present application provides a battery pack and an electrical device to solve or at least improve the problems in the above-mentioned background technology.

[0005] On the one hand, the present application provides a battery pack, comprising: a plurality of battery cells arranged side by side along a first direction, the end faces of the battery cells having protrusions; a cold plate, the cold plate comprising a first collector and a second collector extending along the first direction and arranged at intervals; the cold plate also comprises a plurality of heat exchange tubes, the plurality of heat exchange tubes are arranged side by side and at intervals between the first collector and the second collector; one end of each of the heat exchange tubes is connected to the first collector, and the other end is connected to the second collector; wherein the protrusions are located in the intervals between adjacent heat exchange tubes.

[0006] Among them, the protrusion on the end surface of the battery cell includes a protrusion on the top surface of the battery cell, or a protrusion on the bottom surface of the battery cell, or a protrusion on both the top surface and the bottom surface of the battery cell. The setting position of the cold plate corresponds to the protrusion, and can be correspondingly set above or below the battery cell, in order to allow the protrusion to be located in the interval between the adjacent heat exchange tubes. In this way, a smaller glue coating gap is formed between the heat exchange tube and the battery cell, so that the amount of thermal conductive glue subsequently filled in the glue coating gap is greatly reduced, thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing consumables and reducing the overall weight of the battery pack; and because the thickness of the thermal conductive glue is small, it ensures that the heat exchange efficiency between the battery cell and the cold plate is maintained at a high level, ensuring the thermal management effect of the cold plate on the battery cell.

[0007] Furthermore, the first end of the first header includes a liquid inlet, and the second end of the first header is a closed end; the first end of the second header includes a liquid outlet, and the second end of the second header is a closed end; the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet are located on the same side of the cold plate.

[0008] Furthermore, a plurality of first partitions are arranged at intervals in the first collecting pipe; the second collecting pipe includes a first flow channel and a second flow channel, and the first flow channel and the second flow channel both extend from the first end of the second collecting pipe to the second end of the second collecting pipe; the first flow channel is connected to the heat exchange tube, and the first end of the first flow channel is a closed end; the first end of the second flow channel is connected to the liquid outlet, and the second end of the second flow channel is connected to the second end of the first flow channel; wherein a plurality of second partitions are arranged at intervals in the first flow channel, and the plurality of first partitions and the plurality of second partitions are staggered in the first direction.

[0009] Furthermore, the first partition and the second partition divide the cold plate into a plurality of heat exchange areas arranged side by side along the first direction, and along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the cold plate, the number of the heat exchange tubes in different heat exchange areas decreases successively.

[0010] Furthermore, along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium, the number of the heat exchange tubes in different heat exchange areas decreases by one in sequence.

[0011] Furthermore, a thermally conductive adhesive is provided between the cold plate and the battery core.

[0012] Furthermore, the heat exchange tube is a harmonica tube.

[0013] Furthermore, at least one end of the heat exchange tube includes a bending portion, and the bending portion is bent toward one side of the battery core.

[0014] Furthermore, the battery cell is a blade battery cell; and the protrusion extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0015] In addition, the present application also provides an electrical device, which includes a battery pack as described in any of the above technical solutions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the battery pack of an embodiment of the present application.

[0017] Figure 2 It is a partial structural schematic diagram of a battery cell and a cold plate according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0018] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure of the cold plate of the embodiment of the present application.

[0019] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first collecting tube and the second collecting tube in an embodiment of the present application.

[0020] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the heat exchange medium flow path in the cold plate of an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Many specific details are set forth in the following description to facilitate a full understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in many other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar generalizations without violating the connotation of the present invention, so the present invention is not limited to the specific implementation disclosed below.

[0022] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that descriptions involving orientations, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, inside, outside, etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0023] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, terms such as setting, installing, connecting, etc. should be understood in a broad sense, and technicians in the relevant technical field can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific content of the technical solution.

[0024] In the description of the present invention, reference to terms such as "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "illustrative embodiment", "example", "specific example", or "some implementation methods" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention.

[0025] See also Figures 1 to 5, a battery pack is provided, comprising: a plurality of battery cells 100 arranged side by side along a first direction X, the top surface of the battery cells 100 having a protrusion 101; a cold plate 200, the cold plate 200 being arranged above the battery cells 100, the cold plate 200 comprising a first header 210 and a second header 220 extending along the first direction X and arranged at intervals, and a plurality of heat exchange tubes 230, the plurality of heat exchange tubes 230 being arranged side by side at intervals between the first header 210 and the second header 220; one end of each heat exchange tube 230 is connected to the first header 210, and the other end is connected to the second header 220; wherein the protrusion 101 is located in the interval between adjacent heat exchange tubes 230. Exemplarily, the heat exchange tube 230 is a harmonica tube.

[0026] In addition, the battery pack further includes a lower box body 300 and a top cover 400 , a plurality of battery cells 100 are placed in the lower box body 300 , and the top cover 400 is connected to the lower box body 300 .

[0027] Specifically, due to process and structural limitations, the top surface of the battery cell 100 has a protrusion 101. In the present embodiment, the battery cell 100 is specifically a blade battery cell. Due to the limitations of the manufacturing process and structure, a protrusion 101 is formed on its outer contour, and the protrusion 101 is a flanging structure. Typically, the protrusion 101 is formed on the end surface of the battery cell 100, wherein the end surface includes the bottom surface and / or the top surface of the battery cell, and the protrusion 101 extends along a second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X. The blade battery cell of this structure has a greater space utilization rate than the existing blade battery cells, which is beneficial to improving the energy density. In this embodiment, the cold plate 200 is placed above the battery cell 100, and the protrusion 101 on the top surface of the battery cell 100 is located in the interval between the adjacent heat exchange tubes 230, so that the protrusion 101 will not interfere with the assembly of the battery cell 100 and the cold plate 200, thereby improving the space utilization in the height direction of the battery pack, which is beneficial to reducing the size of the battery pack in the height direction; or when the height size of the battery pack is the same, it is beneficial to improve the energy density of the battery pack.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a thermally conductive adhesive is provided between the heat exchange tube 230 and the battery cell 100 to facilitate heat exchange between the battery cell 100 and the heat exchange tube 230. Since the protrusion 101 on the top surface of the battery cell 100 is located in the interval between the adjacent heat exchange tubes 230, a small adhesive gap is formed between the heat exchange tube 230 and the top surface of the battery cell 100, so that the amount of thermally conductive adhesive subsequently filled in the adhesive gap is greatly reduced, thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing consumables and reducing the overall weight of the battery pack; and since the thickness of the thermally conductive adhesive is small, a high heat exchange efficiency is maintained between the battery cell 100 and the cold plate 200, ensuring the thermal management effect of the cold plate 200 on the battery cell 100.

[0029] In some other embodiments, the bottom surface of the battery cell 100 has a protrusion 101, and the cold plate 200 is arranged below the battery cell 100, so that the protrusion 101 is also located in the interval between adjacent heat exchange tubes 230, thereby fully utilizing the space in the height direction of the battery pack, reducing the thickness of the thermal conductive adhesive, and improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0030] Also, see Figure 2 The protrusion 101 of the battery cell 100 is located in the middle of the end surface of the battery cell 100, which is located in the interval between adjacent heat exchange tubes 230, and each heat exchange tube 230 covers a partial area of ​​two adjacent battery cells 100. A thermal conductive adhesive, such as a thermal conductive structural adhesive, is applied between the heat exchange tube 230 and the battery cell 100, thereby ensuring the rigidity and strength of the entire battery pack, taking into account both mechanical and thermal properties.

[0031] Continue to see Figures 3 to 5 , the first end of the first manifold 210 includes a liquid inlet 211, the first end of the second manifold 220 includes a liquid outlet 221, and the liquid inlet 211 and the liquid outlet 221 are located on the same side of the cold plate 200. Thus, the heat exchange medium flows in from the liquid inlet 211, flows through a plurality of heat exchange tubes 230, and finally flows out from the liquid outlet 221. Of course, it can be understood that the second end of the first manifold 210 and the second end of the second manifold 220 are closed ends. The liquid inlet 211 and the liquid outlet 221 are arranged to be located on the same side of the cold plate 200, so that the main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe of the cooling system can be arranged on the same side of the battery pack, which is beneficial to the arrangement of the main water pipe and makes the structure more compact.

[0032] In this embodiment, a plurality of partitions are provided in the first manifold 210 and the second manifold 220 to form a series-parallel flow path. Specifically, a plurality of first partitions 212 are provided at intervals in the first manifold 210; the second manifold 220 includes a first flow channel 222 and a second flow channel 223, both of which extend from a first end of the second manifold 220 to a second end of the second manifold 220; illustratively, the second manifold 220 is divided into the first flow channel 222 and the second flow channel 223 by a partition 224. The first flow channel 222 is in communication with the heat exchange tube 230, and the first end of the first flow channel 222, i.e., the end adjacent to the liquid outlet 221, is a closed end; the first end of the second flow channel 223 is in communication with the liquid outlet 221, and the second end of the second flow channel 223 is in communication with the second end of the first flow channel 222; wherein, a plurality of second partitions 225 are arranged at intervals in the first flow channel 222, and the first partitions 212 and the second partitions 225 are arranged alternately in the first direction X. Exemplarily, two first partitions 212 are arranged at intervals in the first manifold 210, and two second partitions 225 are arranged at intervals in the first flow channel 222.

[0033] Thus, the heat exchange medium flows into the first header 210 from the liquid inlet 211. Due to the existence of the first partition 212, the heat exchange medium flows into the first flow channel 222 of the second header 220 through multiple heat exchange tubes 230 and flows in the first flow channel 222. Due to the existence of the second partition 225, the heat exchange medium flows back into the first header 210 through multiple heat exchange tubes 230 and continues to flow in the first header 210. When encountering the first partition 212 again, the heat exchange medium flows from the first header 210 through multiple heat exchange tubes 230 into the first flow channel 222 in this way until the heat exchange medium flows into the last compartment of the first flow channel 222. Since the compartment is connected to the second flow channel 223, the heat exchange medium then flows into the second flow channel 223 and finally flows out from the liquid outlet 221, thereby completing the flow of the heat exchange medium in the entire cold plate. The design of the above-mentioned flow channel divides the cold plate into multiple heat exchange areas 240 arranged side by side along the first direction X through the first partition 212 and the second partition 225. Multiple heat exchange tubes 230 are arranged in parallel in each heat exchange area 240, and the heat exchange tubes 230 of adjacent heat exchange areas 240 are arranged in series, which can effectively control the flow resistance of the heat exchange medium. At the same time, the heat exchange medium reciprocates between the first header 210 and the second header 220, which is beneficial to improving the temperature uniformity of the battery pack.

[0034] In order to further improve the temperature uniformity, along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the cold plate 200, the number of heat exchange tubes 230 in different heat exchange areas 240 is reduced successively. Specifically, the heat exchange medium flows in the cold plate, and it exchanges heat with the battery cells. After flowing through the battery cells, the heat exchange capacity of the heat exchange medium at the same flow rate will be weakened. In the present application, the number of heat exchange tubes 230 in different heat exchange areas 240 is reduced successively. When the total flow rate of the main line remains unchanged, the flow rate of the heat exchange medium flowing through the heat exchange tubes in different heat exchange areas is accelerated, thereby increasing the surface convection heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange tubes, and then improving the heat exchange capacity. This can make up for the problem of the heat exchange capacity of the heat exchange medium itself in the rear section of the heat exchange area 240. Each heat exchange area 240 has basically the same heat exchange capacity, which reduces the temperature difference between the battery cells in different areas of the battery pack, so that the cold plate can evenly exchange heat with the battery cells, improve the heat exchange effect, and help improve the performance of the battery pack.

[0035] For example, along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium, the number of heat exchange tubes 230 in different heat exchange areas 240 decreases by one. Figures 3 to 5 The two first partitions 212 and the two second partitions 225 divide the cold plate into five heat exchange areas 240 arranged side by side along the first direction X. Along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium, the number of heat exchange tubes 230 in each heat exchange area 240 is 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6 respectively, that is, in the case of a total of 40 heat exchange tubes, the number of heat exchange tubes 230 in each heat exchange area is reduced by one in sequence, thereby further improving the temperature uniformity.

[0036] Continue to see Figure 1 and Figure 3 , at least one end of the heat exchange tube 230 includes a bending portion 231, and the bending portion 231 is bent toward one side of the battery cell 100. In this embodiment, the cold plate 200 is located above the battery cell 100, and the bending portion 231 is bent downward. In some other embodiments, the cold plate 200 is located below the battery cell 100, and the bending portion 231 is bent upward. Exemplarily, both ends of the heat exchange tube 230 include a bending portion 231, and the bending angle of the bending portion 231 is about 90°.

[0037] The above design enables the first collector 210 and the second collector 220 to be located on the side of the battery cell 100 without interfering with other structures of the battery pack, thereby making the battery pack structure more compact and improving the space utilization of the battery pack.

[0038] Finally, the present application also provides an electric device, which includes the above-mentioned battery pack. For example, the electric device is a vehicle.

[0039] It should be noted that although the present invention is disclosed as above in the form of a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any technical personnel in this field may make possible changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be based on the scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery pack, characterized in that: include: A plurality of battery cells arranged side by side along a first direction, wherein end surfaces of the battery cells have protrusions; a cold plate, the cold plate comprising a first header and a second header extending along the first direction and arranged at intervals; The cold plate further comprises a plurality of heat exchange tubes, which are arranged side by side and spaced apart between the first header and the second header; one end of each heat exchange tube is connected to the first header, and the other end is connected to the second header; Wherein, the protrusion is located in the interval between adjacent heat exchange tubes.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first end of the first manifold comprises a liquid inlet, and the second end of the first manifold is a closed end; The first end of the second manifold comprises a liquid outlet, and the second end of the second manifold is a closed end; The liquid inlet and the liquid outlet are located on the same side of the cold plate.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, characterized in that: A plurality of first partitions are arranged at intervals in the first collecting pipe; The second header includes a first flow channel and a second flow channel, wherein the first flow channel and the second flow channel both extend from the first end of the second header to the second end of the second header; The first flow channel is in communication with the heat exchange tube, and a first end of the first flow channel is a closed end; The first end of the second flow channel is in communication with the liquid outlet, and the second end of the second flow channel is in communication with the second end of the first flow channel; Wherein, a plurality of second partitions are arranged at intervals in the first flow channel, and the plurality of first partitions and the plurality of second partitions are arranged alternately in the first direction.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first partition and the second partition divide the cold plate into a plurality of heat exchange areas arranged side by side along the first direction, and along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the cold plate, the number of the heat exchange tubes in different heat exchange areas decreases successively.

5. The battery pack according to claim 4, characterized in that: Along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium, the number of the heat exchange tubes in different heat exchange areas decreases by one in sequence.

6. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that: Thermally conductive glue is arranged between the cold plate and the battery core.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat exchange tube is a harmonica tube.

8. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: At least one end of the heat exchange tube includes a bending portion, and the bending portion is bent toward one side of the battery core.

9. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The battery core is a blade battery core; the protrusion extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

10. An electrical device, characterized in that: The electrical device comprises a battery pack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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